Important Information from the SBS in response to the Coronavirus Pandemic
CLICK FOR AN IMPORTANT NOTICE ON SCAMS
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Beware of the following SCAMS:
- The IRS will NEVER call you.
Do not give any information to someone who calls saying they are from the IRS. Just hang up. - MEDICARE will NEVER call you.
No one will ever call you to schedule a COVID-19 test at home. Hang up. - SOCIAL SECURITY will NEVER call you.
If you are due money from the stimulus package, it will go directly to your bank account or you will receive a check. Social Security has your information. NEVER give your social security number. Medicare number, bank, credit card or other personal info to anyone who calls asking for it. - The COVID-19 test is covered by Medicare.
Dear Members,
Dear Members, We are all now living in a time of transition where flexibility is key. We need time to adjust and adapt to changing norms in this phase of ongoing uncertainty. Some restrictions have been lifted and yet, some have not; many have been vaccinated, but some have not had a first dose. Everyone has their own comfort level and has the right to make their own choice. People have used the time spent indoors to reflect and regroup. At the very least, there has been a feeling of comfort and safety at home. On the other hand, some of us would like to venture out and imagine a world where everything is as it was pre-COVID. However, we have become used to certain habits over the course of a year. Even though we assume it will be easy to discard these attitudes and ways of being, often it is more complicated than we have expected. In the readiness to socially re-emerge and break out of the “pandemic bubble”, we can encounter certain challenges that may surprise us. Certainly, it is expected that there might be some hesitation, some leftover fear, and even confusion as to the proper protocols. Even as we eagerly look forward to re-opening and enjoying the freedoms we have missed for over a year, it makes sense that it is possible to experience mixed feelings. Above all, please know that you are not alone at this time, and the SBS is here for you to offer support and understanding. As an antidote to “burnout” and stress, it is often suggested that social activities and diversions such as cultural entertainment are beneficial. At the SBS, we offer both: our emerging small gatherings, and our continuing classes, on Zoom with the Music Matinee and Movie Afternoons, and on the telephone with the popular exercise class. Upcoming in June are 3 neighborhood small gatherings:
Dear Members,
Dear Members Many of us are experiencing a mixture of feelings during this time. Certainly, there is a sense of anticipation and expectation as we begin the process of “opening up.” However, as can be predicted, there is also some confusion about protocol and frustration with not always knowing the proper way to proceed. Generally, just as we appreciate the coming of the new season, there is, too, an eagerness to re-emerge and see what is coming next. Everyone’s experiences will be different and will probably change as we go on. At the SBS, we are here to listen and help as we, too, re-enter the world slowly and carefully, but with a sense of curiosity and hope for better times ahead.
Dear Members, This spring, the signs of the season are everywhere, and perhaps we can appreciate them even more than ever before. In the parks there is the fresh smell of the grass, the trees are growing their buds often with stunningly bright colors, and the sun feels warmer on our skin. We are moving forward with the power of optimism and hope.
Dear Members,
Dear Members,
Dear Members,
Dear Members, Dear Members, Dear Members, Dear Members, As we approach the end of 2020, the Holiday Season will have a different look and feel this year. Of necessity, gatherings will be smaller and social distancing will be the norm. Even if the season will be more quiet and less overtly festive, we can still rely on our time-worn rituals and traditions for celebration and solace. In this season of light, we can welcome the hope and brightness more than ever and appreciate the spirit of the holidays. The music of the season brings memories of earlier times, a lightening of mood, and even permission to sing out loud! These songs and carols have the capability to lift us up and can prompt us to look forward with renewed feelings of optimism. This is the season of Advent, of anticipation and expectant waiting for both young and old alike. The traditions of an Advent calendar, carols, and special candles all herald the coming of the Christmas holiday. St. Nicholas Day, celebrated on December 6th, is also a special time in Switzerland and many have fond memories of Samichlaus and chocolate, nuts, fruit, along with the dispensing of sage advice. Dear Members, During unusual times, sometimes it is the small things for which we are grateful. At the SBS, we have seen again and again an abundance of goodness displayed by our members. We have observed neighbors helping neighbors, our members reaching out to each other, and many who are forging new connections in uncertain times. These gestures of appreciation have special meaning as we prepare to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday this year. Dear Members, As we are looking ahead to a new season in this time of COVID, there are shared feelings and questions that we find ourselves asking: What day is it? Why does time seem so blurred? What are the boundaries between day and night? What are the habits that remain intact and which do we discard for now? Normal routines such as attendance at religious services, weekend rituals, scheduled meetings with friends or family, our sleep-wake cycle, or a simple walk outside have been disrupted. As we approach the upcoming Holiday season, many of us have mixed feelings about attending gatherings. Our options are not easy, but can encompass, among others, flexibility vs. frustration, low mood vs. cautious optimism, and discouragement vs. hope. We have been inspired by our connections with the SBS community in the past difficult months and admire the resilience, openness to myriad feelings and reactions, and above all, the responsiveness that all have shown to each other. In reply to expressed interest by our members, and in the spirit of adventurousness, we are looking forward in the coming weeks to try new ways of leading groups, since we are still unable to meet in person. As a reminder, there are still openings in the new exercise group offered on Fridays from 11am to 12noon. Since there has been an overflow in the initial group, this is an opportunity for more people to experience this telephone group. Also, there are spots open for the group called “Knitting for a Cause.” Another option is a possible Queens “meeting on a bench” for a limited group wearing masks and practicing social distancing. There will be another “mini” Kaffeeklatsch for desserts on Monday, November 23 at 2pm at a venue on the East Side yet to be decided. For all four groups, please contact Elise Karras at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 917-756-4480 for more details and to sign up. Dear Members, Dear Members As the days grow shorter, the nights are longer, and there is a chill in the air, we are reminded that the change of season brings new sensations, old memories, and expectations. We have experienced the pandemic beginning in the Spring and now have lived through the heat of the Summer. Getting outside with walks in the park, eating in outdoor restaurants, and even the occasional trip to the beach have been possible due to the warm weather. For many, this has relieved some of the tedium of staying indoors due to quarantine. With the advent of Fall, we realize that this year the season will be a new experience for all of us. For a while, we can still walk and meet in the park, experience outdoor dining, and take in the bright colors of the changing leaves. As we look forward to the upcoming winter months, we all wonder with a sense of anticipation and some trepidation what will transpire. At the SBS we have been thinking of new ways to reach out, new virtual activities, and planning possible new events. We know these will not be the same as in earlier years, but we hope they will be interesting and even invigorating. We also advise that when planning for the winter, there are certain basics that will enhance your well-being. These include eating in a healthy way, exercising regularly, following routines to maintain a sense of order and control, getting plenty of sleep, and limiting alcohol consumption. In addition, reaching out to others via telephone or social media helps to maintain social connection in times of possible isolation indoors. In response to a show of interest by several members, Mary Jo will conduct her first Zoom class in the style of the Music Matinees from the past few years. The content will be varied and include “New Discoveries” in the field of chamber music, instrumental (including piano) music and vocal performances. Although we cannot provide our usual refreshments, we will have lively commentary and interactive discussion. The date will be Thursday, October 29, 2020 at 2pm. Please RSVP (and include your email address) to Mary Jo at (917) 756-4681 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Elise will be conducting a walking group in the park on Monday, October 26 at 1pm beginning on the corner of West 72nd Street and Broadway in front of the Bloomingdales outlet. The rain date will be on Wednesday, October 28. Although we know that some of you enjoy walking as a form of exercise, it is often even more pleasurable to experience it with others. Registration, of necessity, will be limited due to distancing regulations. Please respond to Elise at (917) 756-4480 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. One thing that does not change is that Fall is the season of pumpkins. In case you need a few tips, we include here a video on You Tube on how to easily carve a pumpkin as an age-old custom during the month of October: How to Carve a Pumpkin Like a Pro – Easy Halloween DIY by Warren Nash click here. A good way to use the insides of the pumpkin is to clean and roast the pumpkin seeds or use the pumpkin puree for a side dish. It is also important to know that pumpkin is a very good source of Vitamin A! This is a recipe for a hearty and comforting pumpkin soup, a favorite for the season: Here We again strongly encourage you to get your flu shot as soon as possible. This winter especially will be a time when you will need extra protection. In addition, doing as much to boost our immune systems is paramount to maintaining good health. Along with drinking plenty of water, some nutritious foods that are suggested are: citrus (high in Vitamin C), eggs (high in Vitamin D and protein), blueberries (high in antioxidants), and, of course, the old favorite, chicken soup (warm broth is comforting and nutrient-dense with chicken and vegetables). If you are taking medications, please check with your doctor or pharmacist as to whether there are any food restrictions associated with your medications. We wish you a healthy and safe Fall season and we continue to be available to you for any questions or problems you may be experiencing. A friendly “check in” call is also always possible and often warranted! All best wishes, Elise Karras and Mary Jo Motyka Dear Members We again remind you to remember to get your flu shots, which are now available. In this time of COVID, it is particularly important to guard against any threats to your health and well-being. Dear Members: Since the publication of our previous Newsletter two weeks ago, many changes are continuing to take place as we are all carrying on and getting out more. At the SBS, we are engaged in the next stages of planning for the months ahead. We are pleased to report that while many services have been changed or cut in the tri-state area, our level of commitment remains stable. We enthusiastically continue to bring you the same quality and breadth of services, although new and adaptive to the current circumstances. Over the past few months, we have been calling to “check in”, to follow up, and to initiate contact for the first time. We have expanded our interactions during the COVID crisis to include many people with whom we have had limited contact. This has allowed us to include many more new people in our circle and opened up opportunities for involvement on different levels. In response to our last Newsletter, we have received many replies from our members who are interested in our various offerings in the Fall. We thank you for your interest and we are in the process of figuring out the logistics. Especially enthusiastic were the requests for joining our small group meetings in venues in New Jersey, Queens, Long Island, and maybe Staten Island. This speaks to the hunger that many have exhibited for face-to-face gatherings after a long hiatus, albeit with masks and social distancing. Of necessity, these will be limited to 4 or 5 people, and we may have to schedule a couple of small meetings, rather than one big one. We appreciate your patience as we begin the process of planning. Please also remember the knitting club, the book club and the music afternoons. We also appreciate your input for suggestions for other possibilities. We are also examining creative ways to make music together. This could take place online on Zoom and comprise a “Sing-along” with many of our members joining in. Our repertoire would be mixed to include some Swiss songs, some American standards, and even songs from Broadway musicals. We are looking for someone with a background in leading music groups and with a knowledge of songs sung in different Swiss dialects. We all know that singing (on any level) enhances expression, relieves stress, and improves your mood. We strongly encourage you to get a flu shot as soon as possible. This is covered by Medicare and available in many local pharmacies and urgent care centers, as well as from your doctor. We look forward to hearing from more of you to express your interest in our upcoming events in the coming months. With your input, we can continue to put together interesting, informative, and socially connecting activities to continue our fellowship at the SBS. More than anything else, we value our togetherness and sense of hope for the future. With warm wishes, Dear members Our last letter to you was published at the end of July. Since then, we have heard that many of our members have been using the time indoors to downsize, de-clutter and set new goals. We have heard from some of our members in Westchester and New Jersey about their travails with no power for many days. We admire your fortitude and resilience during those trying times. Outside, you have been slowly meeting with each other while practicing physical distancing but maintaining social connections. This has been a time of transition, a time to grapple with disruptions, and reconsideration of how to reconnect with life for renewal and growth. We have all been coming out of a prolonged period of inactivity and uncertainty, and we are often unsure how to proceed with motivation and problem-solving to move forward. Just as we have offered our services in the beginning and the middle of the pandemic, so too are we available to speak with you as we are slowly re-emerging. At the SBS, we are considering new ways to connect and offer some possibilities for your consideration. Please note that without your feedback and expression of interest, we will not be able to proceed and schedule these activities. So, if any of the following suggestions appeal to you and you would like to participate, we must hear from you by email, text, or phone call. Things will, of necessity, look different this Fall at the SBS. As a start, we are offering the following activities: • The knitting group will now be facilitated via the phone. We will work out the format as we proceed. We are eager to add new members to our core group. Once again, we will present our much appreciated finished products to children of incarcerated parents. • We are putting together a telephone book club, which may evolve to an online setting, if possible. The first book will be a relatively short one and will be assigned to be read in about 2 weeks. We will then convene to offer opinions and evaluations with our fellow group members. We know that many of you are avid readers, and we think that this is a good way to connect in a social forum. • The walking group (social distancing and masks required) will reconvene in the Fall, when the weather should be ideal. • We will be trying to initiate what will essentially be small outside meetings of no more than 4 or 5 people at a time. These will be held in as many venues as required, including Manhattan, Queens, New Jersey, and other areas as requested. We are calling this new venture Coffee at Your Neighborhood Café. Of course, we welcome other suggestions from our members, as well. We are also considering other possible activities. We know many of you have inquired about the Music Matinee group and we are working on a possible format, perhaps on Zoom. We send you our best wishes and look forward to new and interesting times together in the near future. We continue to hope that you are staying safe and well and finding ways to adjust to the “new normal.” With warm regards, The SBS staff We hope that this current Newsletter finds you well and safe. Since our last publication two weeks ago, the opening-up process has officially entered Phase 4, but with limitations due to an abundance of caution, especially where large, enclosed gatherings are concerned. More and more of you have been telling us that you are starting to venture outside and “test the waters” in your neighborhoods and beyond. For the past few weeks, we have been taking time to reflect and re-think our plans and protocols going forward. In defining our own “new normal” at the SBS, we are assessing the ever-evolving situation and working to assure the safety and well-being of both our staff and our members. Of necessity this involves re-defining many of our long-held traditions, especially where physical distancing is required. For the Fall of 2020, we are thinking in creative ways to reconfigure some of our popular events. Already, during the summer, the telephone exercise class has proven to be an alternative way to keep fit. We are also working to bring a music or literature class to you via Zoom. The knitting group will continue to find a way to be together and is actively seeking new members. If you are interested in joining the group, please contact Elise Karras at (917) 756-4480. Other possibilities are being considered for new ways to conduct a virtual Kaffeeklatsch or to attempt a couple of small meetings, socially distanced and outside with a mask. We know many people are still wary of riding on public transportation, especially on a crowded subway. This has prompted us to consider regional small activities in the outdoors in Queens or Staten Island, as well as in Manhattan. We will keep you posted as to our future plans in the Fall. Our office, as noted before, is officially open, but by appointment only and with very limited capacity for visitors. Among the many cancelled activities this year are the traditional Swiss National Day celebrations. Both in Switzerland and here in New York, there will be no formal large gatherings. It has been necessary for the SBS to cancel our very popular Swiss National Day luncheon that had been held at various venues for the past couple of years. We, of course, will be with you in spirit, and send you our warmest greetings. The Swiss Benevolent Society of Philadelphia will be holding an outdoor celebration in New Hope and there will even be a traditional bonfire! The speech by the Federal President of Switzerland, Mrs. Simonetta Sommaruga, to Swiss nationals abroad on the occasion of the 2020 Swiss National Day on August 1st, will be available online at https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/fdfa/living-abroad/fifth-switzerland.html and is enclosed with this letter. As we have been doing for many weeks now, we are offering a recipe for you to try. This week we suggest a summer Cervelat and Cheese Salad. Enjoy! For cultural stimulation, go to www.verbierfestival.com or https://youtu.be/j1uYw2tkSV0 for several short excerpts from the famed festival. These performances are being sponsored by the label Deutsche Grammophon and offer a wide variety of top-notch musical experiences. Also, the Metropolitan Opera is continuing with week 20 of its free streamed live historic performances of great operas. Go to www.metopera.org for the schedule. Our next Newsletter Update will be brought to you at the end of August 2020. We wish you a good rest of the summer with continued health and optimism for the days ahead! We send you our best wishes, The SBS staff Dear Members We hope that the last two weeks have brought you continued good health, and that your capacity for resilience and coping remain intact. Although progress has been made, there is still a sense of uncertainty about the future and our place in it. At the SBS, we are following the guidelines for Phase 3 re-opening and finding our way as the situation evolves. In New York City, for example, although it was proposed that restaurants would be open for indoor seating in this phase, there has been a roll-back for now and only outside seating will be allowed to ensure continued safety for the interim. In this wonderful interview and video, the great cellist Yo-Yo Ma explains how music can close social distances and plays the Prelude from Suite No. 1 by Bach. For more information click here Dear Members We are pleased to announce that our office building at 500 Fifth Avenue in New York City will be open on July 6. At the SBS, we are proceeding with caution in our opening-up process. We are taking every precaution to ensure the safety of our staff and our members who come to the office. To this end, in the entry to our office, we have set up a sanitizing station complete with hand sanitizers and extra masks. We will require that everyone wear a mask in the office and maintain a safe 6 feet distance. We will keep in mind that the number of people in the office will have to be limited and therefore, we urge you to call to make an appointment. Expect the SBS staff to be wearing masks and we will also be maintaining a safe distance. Our protocol follows all recommended guidelines from public health authorities, including the CDC. If we deem the number of people has reached capacity, we will ask you to wait outside. Please be assured if any of our staff is not feeling well, they will be mandated to stay home. Also, if YOU are not feeling well, please contact us by phone only. Please do not come into the office. We will be asking anyone who enters our office to sign an official form called the COVID Daily Attestation which will ask if you have had symptoms, if you have tested positive, and if you have been in contact with anyone with the Virus. Also, the office will be thoroughly disinfected every night. We will abstain from hugging, hand shaking, and any personal contact between staff and members. This is a necessary precaution, so we hope that you will not take these restrictions personally. As the best insurance to keep everyone safe, we will continue to talk over the phone and communicate via email. This modality is not perfect, but it will continue to allow us to keep in touch in a straightforward, meaningful, and timely manner. We thank those of you who responded to a recent Newsletter with abundant and generous donations! So many of you have reached out and we truly appreciate your commitment to the work of the SBS, especially in these difficult times. Your gift makes a big difference in supporting our programs, our work with frail and homebound clients, and in attending to the needs of our general membership-at-large. Best regards from the SBS staff! Dear Members At this point, we have decided to reduce the frequency of our Newsletter and will be sending it to you once every two weeks. As the restrictions ease, we know for all of us that this will be a challenging time, but also a time of exploration and discovery. Each in our own way, we will be finding our new places in the “new normal.” We are here to help to support you in navigating your own responses. These are unprecedented times, and we know that even though many of us are excited to begin anew, there may also be some hesitation to venture out and break established routines that we have kept for several weeks. We encourage you to be mindful of the need for small steps, flexible thinking, and fostering a new resiliency. The “ups and downs” experienced in the opening-up process are inevitable and most of us will find new ways of coping in finding our way. As of this writing, the social workers have begun to make some appointments with members “mask-to-mask” in a park or neighborhood bench. Keeping physically distant (6 feet apart) does not mean that we need to be socially distant. Please contact us via email or phone if you would like to schedule an appointment and we will get back to you. Unfortunately, we would like to remind you that some parts of the world have not changed. During these difficult times, there are always people that will try to trick you with a scam. This article from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will help you stay safe www.consumerfinance.gov. At the SBS, we are pleased to see that Forbes magazine has rated Switzerland the number 1 safest country in the world for COVID19!! Find more information here. In the cultural world, we wish to bring to your attention that the Metropolitan Opera is re-broadcasting its very popular At-Home Gala featuring 40 famous artists and the Met Opera and Chorus. This is being shown on Friday, June 12 and Saturday, June 13. Other opera performances will also be streamed for free throughout the week. Click here. There is also a wonderful, short article from the New York Times on the unexpected sources of hope. Of all things, the author finds joy in re-growing scallions, but this is also a meditation on coping in these uncertain times. Read more. Sharing our recipes with you has proven to be very popular. Let us know if you have enjoyed them! For this week we have included a recipe for Rhabarber Wähe. Enjoy! There are many ways to keep in touch. Although our next Newsletter will not be sent until June 25, we will still be communicating by phone, email, texts and now, some in-person restricted visits. One of the unintended benefits of this crisis has been being in touch with, besides our active members, those of you who we see on an occasional basis. Many have said that the SBS is like their “second family” and through sunshine and shade, we continue to be here for you! With warm greetings from the SBS staff! Dear Members We are planning to see you again soon! As the government is ready to enter Phase One of the reopening process in New York City and the surrounding areas, the SBS is also in the planning stages of exploring new and creative ways to make contact. It is often said that with crisis comes opportunity, and in this case, we are looking at ways of managing and coping with a new reality. In particular, the SBS staff has been discussing possible ways to meet in person on a one-to-one basis. If you would like to meet with one of the social workers, we are considering a pilot program to approach a visit in a safe and secure manner. Our stipulations are these: we would require that an appointment be made, a mask be worn, social distancing of 6 feet be kept, and the meeting would take place in an outdoor space such as a park or neighborhood place. This plan would constitute a beginning of our social work services to those who need a face-to-face contact. We will of course be continuing our phone calls, emails, and texts to our clients and the wider membership. As for our other events, we are beginning the process of addressing new solutions for our group activities. We will keep you posted as we figure out the best and safest way to facilitate these events. So many of our members have told us how much they miss these in-office events, and we are eager to find possible ways of implementing them! At the SBS, we know that there will be unexpected changes once we step out into the world. We will have to be ready for these changes and be open to new ways of living. For example, this may involve different ways of getting around, having different shopping routines, remembering to wear a mask, and sometimes not even recognizing your neighbor! We are here to help you navigate your own responses and assist you in seeing your way through. At the SBS, we ask you to remember you are not alone in this unfolding process. We are here for you, and we have been finding out that you are there for each other, as well. While we know that there are challenging times ahead, we also know that there can be exciting and interesting experiences for all of us. In supplementing our activity schedule, we are pleased that the telephone exercise class has added new members. This popular class has been added by people into their schedule twice a week for both physical and social enhancement. We remind you that Elise Karras will be conducting a workshop on advance directives, including the Five Wishes plan, on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 from 1 to 2pm. Five Wishes is a document that helps people make health care decisions for themselves. Because these wishes are written down, it assures that we have a say in our health care decisions if we are unable to verbalize them at the time of need. Please register with Elise by telephone or email to join the group. Instructions for calling into the Five Wishes seminar: For meaningful cultural stimulation, we direct you to the Orchestra of St. Luke’s “Bach at Home 2020” festival from June 9 to June 30. This series will include orchestral, chamber, and solo works with interviews and articles. Click here. This will be presented every Tuesday. Also, the Metropolitan Opera continues its nightly streams of former great opera performances. Go to www.metopera.org for more information. Finally, so many of our members have expressed appreciation and delight in our weekly posting of a recipe for you to try at home. Click here for a white risotto from the Ticino recipe! Enjoy! With warm regards from the SBS staff Dear SBS Members For much needed cultural stimulation, from May 30 to June 4, for streams of wonderful dance performances, go to www.lincolncenter.org/danceweek. With warm regards, Dear Members We hope that you all are doing well and staying safe and healthy. We send you our warmest greetings and would like to keep you informed about our latest endeavors at the SBS. Our Society has been especially active and on-call during these uncertain times. Since the middle of March, we have been sending out a weekly Newsletter Update to the members. As one member recently said: “These updates keep us connected, interested, and informed. I save all of the newsletters.” In each issue, we have varied our content to reflect the needs of the community in these uncertain times. We have addressed physical, emotional, and mental consequences and offered tips to stay safe. In addition, we have attempted to keep our members entertained with links to educational and inspirational sites. Above all, our goal has been to strengthen the bonds of connection between us. All of our Newsletter Updates can be found on our website. Please indicate on the payment form if you would like to be put on our mailing list for the Newsletters. We have been heartened to see that our members have shown enormous resilience, mutual aid, and patience during this time. We also appreciate their openness to discuss any problems or issues that have arisen in this crisis. One member in New Jersey recently stated: “When I tell my friends about the SBS, they are so impressed with what you do for us.” In order to help our members remain safe and healthy, we have a limited amount of face masks to distribute to those who need them. These have been graciously provided by Consul General of Switzerland. Please let us know if you would like us to send some to you. As the SBS looks forward, we are exploring new ways to creatively address communication issues and opportunities to come together in a safe and protected manner. Knowing that restrictions will gradually be eased, we look forward to encountering the “new normal.” We are here for the duration. We understand that just as staying at home has presented unique challenges, so, too, will the “opening up” process require new ways of thinking and feeling. Our two social workers have many years of experience and are specially trained to help process an array of practical, emotional, and psychological issues. They are able to offer a steady hand in times of uncertainty. We are here to help you to adapt in the time of COVID and in the months and years ahead. As always, we encourage you to reach out to us for a warm and professional response to your particular needs. We offer one more performance for inspiration and comfort. Itzhak Perlman leads Juilliard students in a short, but beautiful piece by Edward Elgar: www.cbsnews.com. In the Search section, type in Juilliard Orchestra. As we come together, we rely on your generosity to help keep our services free and available to all of our members. For over 174 years, our Society has made a commitment to serve the Swiss community. For the last three months, the SBS has been a beacon of hope and light in these troubled times. We hope that our impact on the entire community has been valuable and we invite you to make a donation or renew your membership. You can also pay online, click here. We understand that not everyone is able to contribute at this time. We welcome other expressions of support such as volunteering or advocating for us by sharing our mission with your friends or family members. Thank you for staying connected with us and being a part of our community. Even though we are in uncharted waters, together we can look forward to better times ahead. We hope you are in good spirits and maintaining good health! Warm regards from the SBS staff Dear SBS Member As we prepare to begin yet another week of sheltering-in-place, we appreciate the many responses we have received regarding our weekly Newsletter Updates. Our goal has been to keep our members connected and provide information to keep everyone up to date. We are always happy to hear your comments and reactions to our updates: “I love getting the newsletter every week. I feel the love between the lines…” “I look forward to receiving the newsletter every week. I especially enjoy clicking on the links to be distracted and enlightened!” “One of the things I have learned during this time is that we can adjust to anything if we put our mind to it. I was wondering before if I could deal with not being able to join the SBS activities or visit friends, but I am alive and well! Spring is always beautiful, but I never took the time to watch the way nature progresses every day. It is a real gift.” “When I receive the newsletter, it makes me feel that I belong, that I am part of something, where people care about each other.” We celebrate Older Americans Month this year in these unusual times. This national initiative recognizes the contributions of older Americans across the country. In turn, we recognize your relevant, vibrant, and important contributions that help to make the SBS what it is today. We appreciate our volunteers, the giving of mutual aid between members, and the fostering of deepening friendships. This involvement in a larger community has helped us to know that even being apart has brought us closer together. In addition, May has been designated as Mental Health Month. For 2020, the theme is “kindness” and the goal is to celebrate the thousand acts of kindness that are so important to our mental health. Certainly, in these uncertain times, there is no health without mental health. If you find yourself anxious or depressed, you are not alone. From longer lines at the grocery store, to cancellation of events leading to more social isolation, to fear of the disease, it is hard not to feel some of these effects of the virus. If you are feeling the stress of uncertainty and unpredictability, it is understandable. We know the importance of connection and being able to talk to someone. We are here for you and encourage you to reach out to either of our social workers. Staying at home for so long can easily feel restrictive, but on the other hand, it can make us feel too comfortable. As we are contemplating taking the first small steps, there may be some initial hesitation about going out and re-entering a changed environment. Of course, there is a constant need to “suit up” with masks and gloves, even as some restrictions are eased. Also, after not moving for so long, we all will have to prepare for what it takes to reinvigorate our mobility. One way of doing this is to join our telephone exercise group. Going out initially can be overwhelming. To avoid this feeling, incremental small steps will be helpful. There are new regulations regarding overseas travel. Although Switzerland is now starting to phase in an “opening up” process, special travel rules have been put in place. Please contact the Consulate if you have any questions. As noted above, as we get ready to go out again in the future, we will still be wearing masks. Please let us know if you need any masks and we will help you to get them. There are no planned events at the SBS for the foreseeable future. The Annual meeting has been postponed, the Spring outing has been cancelled, and we now know that the Swiss National Day in the summer has been cancelled. These changes are all in keeping with CDC regulations. We again are sending a recipe for you to try while we all continue to nourish ourselves to stay healthy and resilient. Click here for a recipe for Ghackets und Hornli. Enjoy! For cultural stimulation, the Metropolitan Opera’s series continue again this week with free livestreams at www.metopera.org. The highlight is Lucia di Lammermoor with Joan Sutherland and is being shown on Friday, May 15 at 7:30pm. To stem the tide of boredom and feelings of cultural deprivation, here is a website from the Guardian newspaper in the UK that offers dozens of streams from venues all over Europe and the United States. It is a great resource that you can dip in and out of: Lockdown listening: classical music and opera to stream at home, at the guardian.com. We mourn the recent passing of longtime member Vreni Trachtenberg. We will miss her greatly. We encourage you to stay the course and offer continued good wishes to you all. “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” Franklin D. Roosevelt Warm regards, Your SBS staff Dear SBS Member Spring has finally arrived, bringing thoughts of warmer weather, (mostly) sunny days, brightly colored blooms, and this week, the celebration of Mother’s Day. In our previous Newsletter Updates, we have addressed practical, legal, and emotional issues, all of which have hopefully been useful to you during these uncertain times. However, we do not want this week to go by without celebrating the change of season. Spring, after all, is traditionally a season of renewal and hope, two qualities especially welcomed at this time. A beautiful bouquet of flowers can brighten up any room. In the markets, the many colorful Spring blooms have appeared. This week the first lilacs and peonies have joined the many varieties of tulips. For those not lucky enough to have gardens of their own, a couple of bunches of flowers bought at the stands can make a lovely addition this time of year. To learn more, go to “Simple Solutions: the basics of flower arranging” where you will find some basic tips. Some of these tips include using warm water, clipping the flower stems immediately, using foam to stabilize, and making the width balance the height. “Where flowers bloom, so does hope.” - Lady Bird Johnson Warm regards from the SBS Staff Dear SBS Member As we navigate the 6th week of sheltering-at-home, we have been impressed by the way our members are taking care of themselves. In our regular conversations with members, we have consistently observed remarkable resiliency, acceptance, and forward thinking. Here are some of your reflections: When we asked a member if she had enough food to eat, she laughed and replied: A homebound member ended our call by saying: And another member proclaimed: And finally, one of our members reflected on the lessons she has learned about looking ahead. She said: Taking Care of Business Taking Care of Your Cultural Needs And finally, we mourn the recent passing of two SBS members: Elise Landeck and Dominic Altamuro. We will miss them greatly. “When in doubt, stand still and wait until the way forward is clear. This will have a beginning, a middle and an end.” Kind regards, Dear SBS Member Dear SBS Members We hope your holidays were meaningful and fulfilling despite the uncertain times in which we live. Although we all have had to forgo visits with family and friends, we look forward to better times; and they will come! As we approach the fourth week of sheltering-in-place, it is especially important to focus on self-care. We are grappling with restrictions we could never have imagined. Until recently, staying at home all the time was unthinkable! We have gathered some tips to help in coping with the scope of isolation that many of you may be experiencing in your homes: We hope that these tips are useful to get you through these difficult times. Please remember that it is perfectly understandable to be feeling anxious, unmotivated, afraid and/or sad. These feelings may be new to you and appear unexpectedly. It is important to practice self-compassion during times of uncertainty such as these. Be aware that your feelings will come and go. If you feel the need to talk, please feel free to give one of our social workers a call. Also, Governor Cuomo has set up a free mental health hotline in New York State. Thousands of mental health professionals have volunteered and are available to help address emotional health issues stemming from the stresses of social isolation and the quarantine. The hotline number is 844-863-9314. In New Jersey, the number for the NJ Mental Health Cares Helpline is 1-866-202-4357. There are many ways of taking care of yourself. Many who have lived independent lives are reluctant to reach out to use temporary outside community efforts. However, it is a measure of strength to know that you will remain safe by not leaving your home unnecessarily and making use of such services instead. We have identified a new volunteer service called “Invisible Hands” that serves Manhattan and some parts of New Jersey. These are young people who have recently formed a very large coalition that will do your shopping and deliver to your home. Their website is invisible hands deliver and their phone number is (732) 639-1579. An article about the service can be found at www.6sqft.com if you type “Invisible Hands” into the search box. Food Metropolitan Opera Opera Gala Live Performances Virtual Tour of Botanical Garden Virtual Train Trip Above all, always remember: If you need to reach Elise Karras or Mary Jo Motyka, please reach out to them directly (for Elise Karras: 917-756-4480 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / for Mary Jo Motyka: 917-756-4681 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). They will return your phone calls and emails as soon as possible. The SBS staff Dear Members of the SBS, As we write our 3rd update newsletter during the COVID-19 crisis, we hope this finds you safe and well. We have reached out to many members and have received calls from members who we don’t usually hear from. We welcome all these calls. If you need to reach Elise Karras or Mary Jo Motyka, please reach out to them directly (Mary Jo Motyka 917-756-468 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Elise Karras 917-756-4480 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). They will return your phone calls and emails as soon as possible. Our SBS community has shown great resilience and our staff is inspired by your ability to cope during such difficult times. We hope that the resources and information we have shared have been helpful. Please remember that Elise and Mary Jo are available for any questions or concerns. You can access the resource/information on our March 31/April 2 newsletters or on our website. Here are some resources to keep you busy while staying at home: Online basic exercises The Census The Census helps to direct billions of dollars in federal funds to local communities. It determines the number of Congressional seats each state receives. We have found that people find comfort and distraction in using adult coloring books. If you would like to explore more about this, call Elise or Mary Jo so we can figure out if this is right for you. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has mandated the use of masks (covering nose and mouth) for everyone venturing outside. Some of our members are making their own masks. If you want more information on making masks, give Elise or Mary Jo a call, or you can look at this useful link in the New York Times (there is no need to have a subscription, this is a part of the free content): https://www.nytimes.com/article/how-to-make-face-mask-coronavirus.html Many people will be getting a stimulus payment from the government. You generally do not need to have filed taxes in order to be eligible to receive your payment. It has been reported that many of those on Social Security will receive an economic relief payment. For more information, please click here. We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you in person in better times. We hope you stay healthy and safe. Our best wishes for the holidays. Warm regards, Your SBS Team Important announcement from the Consulate General of Switzerland Dear Members, As of March 30, the SBS continues to abide with the Government order to “shelter-in-place” during these difficult times at least through April 30. Our offices will remain closed until further notice. We have spoken to or communicated with many of our members over the past weeks. We continue to be available by phone or email if you have any questions or concerns regarding the coronavirus situation or other pressing concerns. We know that this is a rapidly changing situation and your needs may change at any time. Below you will find a list of some resources to help you navigate the evolving circumstances: At times of uncertainty, anxiety, and isolation, the arts are great sources of comfort and solace. They can seem like a steadying force, rather than a mere distraction. In this time of social isolation, connecting with the arts can remind us of the human capacity to create and endure. For those with access to the Internet or social media, here are some links to cultural enrichment sites: Music From Andrea Bocelli to Joyce DiDonato: great musicians sharing at-home concerts. Click here Museums The Olympic Museum Lausanne Journey through Switzerland Montreux Jazz Festival Exercise If you are alone and feeling isolated and would like emotional support, please let us know. We remain committed to the safety and well-being of our members and are here for you. If you need to reach Elise Karras or Mary Jo Motyka, please reach out to them directly (for Elise Karras: 917-756-4480 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / for Mary Jo Motyka: 917-756-4681 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). They will return your phone calls and emails as soon as possible. Dear Members, As of today, the SBS Office remains closed. We are available by phone or email if you have any concerns or questions regarding the coronavirus situation or other pressing issues. We understand that this can be a difficult and lonely time. Below are some websites that can help pass the time and ease the isolation. Opera Online Courses Museums Books Exercise Musicals If you are alone and feeling isolated and would like emotional support please let us know! Since this is a rapidly evolving situation, the SBS is continuing to monitor the situation closely. We remain committed to the safety and well being of our members. Because of the uncertainty surrounding the duration of the outbreak, we cannot now offer a definite re-opening date. Our office will remain closed at least until Friday, March 27, and we will continue to provide updates in the days and weeks ahead. Dear Members & Clients, You are at the center of everything we do at the Swiss Benevolent Society of New York. Your health and wellbeing are of utmost concern to us and you are our highest priority especially during the current COVID-19 epidemic. We all need to take this virus seriously. As a precaution, and in keeping with current guidance from healthcare experts, we are, therefore, cancelling all remaining events (Kaffeeklatsches in NJ, Westchester and Long Island; Movies; Music & Fitness held at the SBS offices) for March and April. Importantly, this means we are also cancelling the Annual Meeting, which was scheduled for April 21st. The Board of Directors will announce a new date for the Annual Meeting as soon as the situation permits them to do so. We are monitoring the official advice from city, state and federal health officials as well as the NJ Department of Health and the States coronavirus Task Forces. For access to non-emergency information specifically with respect to senior citizens, please use the following phone numbers: Please also take note that in order to protect both our employees and our members/clients, our offices will remain closed for the next two weeks, starting today. Please rest assured that we will remain up and running during this period and are available to provide our services to you during these challenging times. Our staff will be working from home and answering phone calls and emails. If you need to reach Elise Karras or Mary Jo Motyka, please reach out to them directly (for Elise Karras: 917-756-4480 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.g / for Mary Jo Motyka: 917-756-4681 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). They will return your phone calls and emails as soon as possible. Newsletter, June 15, 2021
After living in a protective mode for so long, many of us are feeling the worry and frustration give way in increments to more hope and optimism. In order to accomplish this, there is a need to give ourselves permission to be flexible, to experience a change of mind, and above all, to allow space and time for what we are feeling. Although in the heat of the pandemic we were faced with uncertainty, now at a time of transition, so too are we being asked to cope with a sense of unpredictability. Each of us has lived through a kind of collective experience, but we all have individual responses, or as has often been said: “same storm, different boats.” It has been seen that those who cope best have a flexible coping style, can make alternate plans when necessary, and know what you can control and what may be out of your hands for now. A question to ask may be: Does uncertainty have to mean a sense of danger, or can it be a time of possibility and a challenge to old norms and habits? In these changing times, we are often surprised by previously unrecognized strengths, a growing curiosity for what lies ahead, and a tolerance for adaptation and adjustment. The thread that runs through these experiences is the need for connection and human contact. At the SBS we believe that contact and context matter deeply. To this end, we have been “opening up” slowly with small group gatherings and giving our members a chance to reconvene in their own neighborhoods at their own pace. We have been finding that these face-to-face meetings have been easing the possible fears of going out, while also nourishing the desire for connection again.
Two such gatherings in the coming weeks will be held on the Upper East Side in Manhattan and on Long Island:
On Wednesday, June 23 at 2pm, we will host a small gathering at a restaurant on the Upper East Side. Please RSVP to Elise Karras for the exact venue.
On Tuesday, June 29 at 2pm, we will host an outdoor gathering at the home of a member in Garden City on Long Island, weather permitting. Please RSVP to Mary Jo Motyka for the exact address and for more information in case of inclement weather on the day of the event.
The monthly Music Matinee will be held on Zoom on Thursday, June 24 at 2pm. The topic will be “Famous Musical Siblings: Past and Present” and will include performances by contemporary musicians as well as past composers with the name Mozart, Mendelssohn, Bach, and others. Please join us for a revelatory afternoon with many surprises! RSVP to Mary Jo Motyka to reserve a place and receive the Invite link the day before the event.
The members of the group Knitting for a Cause continue to work on their lap blankets for residents of nearby nursing homes. These will include the name of the knitter and underneath, the SBS letters, as a reminder of our dedication and caring. Please contact Elise Karras for more information.
The telephone exercise class is continuing on a regular basis and remains very popular. Limited openings remain in the 11am class on Fridays. Please contact Elise Karras if you are interested.
Please find attached a recipe for Milchwegglis (Sweet Milk Rolls). A light and sweet snack.
In the coming weeks and in the next Newsletters, please watch for more small gatherings and possible excursions to nearby venues in July. We will be expanding our boundaries in our own “opening-up” process as we all become more comfortable with resuming some of our former events in different settings. We hope you will be able to join us, at your own discretion.
As we approach the formal beginning of Summer, the SBS staff sends greetings to all and good wishes for happy, healthy, and hopeful times ahead!
With warm regards,
Mary Jo Motyka, LMSW and Elise Karras, LMSW
Social ServicesNewsletter, May 28, 2021
On Wednesday, June 2, the gathering in Forest Hills in Queens has been filled due to a large response. (In the near future, another gathering in Queens will be offered at a different venue).
In Bergen County in New Jersey, a small group will meet on Wednesday, June 9 at 2pm. Please RSVP to Elise Karras by June 4 and she will provide the details. Space is limited and if you are interested, we encourage you to respond as early as possible.
SAVE THE DATE: On Wednesday, June 23 at 2pm, a small gathering will be held on the Upper East Side. The venue will be announced in our next Newsletter. Please RSVP to Elise Karras.
The next Movie Afternoon will be held on Thursday, June 10 at 2pm on Zoom. We will be showing “Minari”, the award-winning (the Oscars, the Golden Globes, etc.) movie from 2020. In a semi-autobiographical rendering of the director’s upbringing, the plot follows a family of South Korean immigrants who try to make it in the rural United States. It has been called “tender and sweeping” and “personal and poetic” by the critics. Please RSVP to Mary Jo Motyka.
Knitting for a Cause, our knitting group, is working on lap blankets to deliver to residents of nursing homes in the area. As an extra feature, labels will be attached to each blanket, giving the first name of the knitter, and the name of the SBS at the bottom of each. We are targeting a date in September to distribute the group’s handiwork. Please contact Elise Karras for more information.
We offer a recipe for the season. So many of you have told us how much you look forward to and enjoy the recipes and the narratives behind them. We thank Sandra Phillips for her research and interest in choosing appropriate Swiss recipes. We also appreciate the help of Sandra Ineichen in formatting the graphics of the Newsletter. Please find a recipe for Löwenzahnhonig.
We once again send you our best wishes for better days ahead and hope for positive experiences in navigating your own “opening-up” process.
With warm wishes,
Mary Jo Motyka, LMSW and Elise Karras, LMSW
Social ServicesNewsletter, May 14, 2021
As the decision to begin the re-opening of the tri-state area was rolled out recently, many of us were excited, since we had been waiting so long for this to happen. Although some are relieved and look forward to joining the world in our old ways, many others have been surprised to experience confusion, some measure of fear, and hesitancy. After spending more than a year sheltering in place, the process of re-entry can be daunting. Although we may be ready to “bounce back” in some ways, we may also feel a sense of caution in stepping out. During these days, many people report high expectations that are sometimes met with a sense of disappointment. It seems only natural to vacillate between optimism and doubt since this is such a new phase for all of us. At the SBS, we are aware of the myriad feelings expressed by many of our members. We are here to help you process these sometime conflicting reactions and understand that this may take time. Just as we had to establish new routines and attitudes going into the pandemic, so, too, do we have to find new ways of being, coming out of the pandemic.
As a reminder, on Thursday, May 20 at 2pm, we will hold a telephone seminar offered by Jacqueline Gikow, a trainer and wellness coach who specializes in alleviating chronic disorders and injuries. She will speak about how safe and effective exercise can build strength and relieve pain. RSVP to Elise Karras is suggested. The call-in number for the event is 332-330-8332, wait for the voice, then punch in 1291.
As we continue to slowly roll out our neighborhood small gatherings, the Westchester meeting on May 26th has been filled, but Mary Jo Motyka is taking names for the waiting list for the next one, to be held in June.
The next Music Matinee, entitled “Music and Nationality” will be held by Zoom on Thursday, May 27 at 2pm. We will explore the connection between the culture and language of a country and the music that defines it. Chopin, Grieg, Tchaikowsky, Dvorak, and others will be represented. Please contact Mary Jo Motyka to RSVP.
SAVE THE DATE: The neighborhood small gathering in Forest Hills in Queens will be held on Wednesday, June 2 at 2pm. Please RSVP to Elise Karras. Details will follow in the next Newsletter. If the group fills up, your name will be put on a waiting list for the next meeting in Queens.
SAVE THE DATE: On Wednesday, June 9 at 2pm, there will be a small gathering in Bergen County in New Jersey. Details will follow in the next Newsletter. RSVP to Elise Karras.
We remind you that, for now, we are limiting our gatherings to 5 people. We ask that you wear a mask, except when eating, and we will try to practice social distancing as much as the situation allows. The SBS expects that all attendees abide by all CDC guidelines for the safety of all.
The telephone exercise class has openings in the 11am section on Friday mornings. Please contact Elise Karras if you are interested. This has been a popular and sustaining activity for our members throughout the pandemic.
Knitting for a Cause, our dedicated group of volunteers with special handiwork skills, continues to work on making lap blankets to be delivered to two nursing homes. If you are interested in joining the group, please contact Elise Karras.
We offer you another Swiss recipe for Spring: light, airy, and full of chocolate Toblerone Mousse.
We send our very best wishes to all our members and welcome any questions or comments. We hope that you are enjoying this season of renewal by going outside and experiencing the colors, fragrances, and sounds of the flowers, trees, birds, and the fresh air. The month of May is Older Americans Month and we salute the resilience, good humor, and perseverance of our older members!!
With warm regards,
Mary Jo Motyka, LMSW and Elise Karras, LMSW
Social ServicesNewsletter, April 29, 2021
Our first event will be a small gathering at the Café Eighty Two at 2282 Broadway. There is an outdoor seating area in front of the café and we will be meeting at 2pm on Wednesday, May 12. This is open to members who live in this neighborhood. Other gatherings will be held in the near future in neighborhoods in Queens, New Jersey, Long Island, Westchester, and the Upper East Side in Manhattan. We understand that many members are eager to get together again. However, we feel it is our professional responsibility to slowly roll out our events. Therefore, for now, our limit is 5 people. If you register and are put on a waiting list, you will be invited to our next event in your neighborhood. You MUST RSVP to Elise Karras for this event. The SBS expects that all attendees abide by all CDC guidelines, and for the safety of all, we ask that everyone wears a mask, whether or not you are vaccinated. Any interaction with the general public poses an elevated risk of being exposed to COVID 19. We cannot guarantee that you will not be exposed while in attendance at our events.
We are planning other small gatherings at the end of May in Westchester and on Long Island. The dates and venues will be published in our next Newsletter.
As a reminder, please be aware that the next Music Matinee will be held by Zoom on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at 1:30pm. Please note the time and RSVP to Mary Jo Motyka. The topic is “Discoveries: Past and Present.”
The next Movie Afternoon will be held on May 17 at 2pm. Starring Catherine Deneuve and released in 2020, it is called “The Truth” and is about a reunion between an actress and her daughter after the actress publishes her memoirs. The movie was nominated for several awards in France. Please RSVP to Mary Jo Motyka.
The group Knitting for a Cause continues to work on making lap blankets to be delivered to two nursing homes in the area. If you are interested in joining the group or want more information, please contact Elise Karras.
The telephone exercise class continues to remain popular with our members. There are openings for the 11am class on Fridays. Please contact Elise Karras if you are interested.
SAVE THE DATE: As a special event, we present a telephone seminar offered by Jacqueline Gikow, a trainer and wellness coach who specializes in alleviating chronic disorders and injuries. She will speak about how safe and effective exercise can build strength and relieve pain. This will be held on Thursday, May 20 at 2pm. Call-in details will follow in the next Newsletter.
A recipe to celebrate the Spring season: Capretto alla Locarnese: Potroasted Kid in the Locarno style (with white wine, cream and herbs).
As the next few weeks unfold, we look forward to seeing you in the outdoors in small groups. At the SBS, we are working to make the experience a fulfilling one, with reunions in person and our usual camaraderie. Of course, we are still here for you on the phone, by email and text for any questions or concerns, or just to “check in.”
Enjoy the season!
With warm wishes,
Mary Jo Motyka, LMSW and Elise Karras, LMSW
Social ServicesNewsletter, April 15, 2021
Although there is real cause for renewed confidence and there is a light at the end of the tunnel, it is important to remember that we are still in the tunnel. Many of you have received one or both doses of the vaccine, but there are some who have not. Whether because of inability to find a site or due to lack of transportation, especially if the site is far away, there are still some hurdles. Please feel free to contact either Elise Karras or Mary Jo Motyka if you need further help.
Some of us are experiencing re-emergence anxiety while others are feeling an eagerness to resume our activities. Some people, understandably, are experiencing a mixture of both. Stepping outside of the “bubble” can be daunting, especially after such a long period of time. There is some amount of risk, but also a curiosity about how it might feel.
As we begin to emerge, we ask: What will we keep? What will we discard? Many of us are getting back to essentials with an emphasis on simple living, knowing the importance of taking care of ourselves, and keeping the connections with friends and family alive in any way that we can.
At the SBS, we are planning to re-open “little by little.” Just as the leaves do not bud all at once, so too are we taking it slowly, step by step. We are in the process of planning neighborhood small meetings for coffee or a snack. We must limit the attendance to 5 participants at this time and require that you make a reservation, either by email or phone. If there is an overflow response, we will have a waiting list and may schedule a second group. We are deliberately scheduling these small gatherings in your neighborhoods so that you will not have far to travel. Our approach is informed by the fact that we are all in a different place, both physically and emotionally. Going forward, after we can determine that each step we take is on solid footing, we will decide if bigger groups are warranted due to safety and comfort level. Possible locations will be on the East Side, the West Side, Queens, Westchester, Long Island, and New Jersey. In our next Newsletter, we will announce the dates and venues that are planned in May and urge you to respond as soon as possible if you wish to attend. Masks are required (except when eating) and we will try to adhere to distancing when possible.
The next Music Matinee on Zoom will be held on Wednesday, May 5 at 1:30pm. The subject will be “More Discoveries: Past and Present.” We will see and hear some newly discovered archival performances of famous musicians as well as some unheralded performers of today who deserve accolades. We hope you can join us for this special afternoon. Please contact Mary Jo Motyka to RSVP.
Fewer and fewer doctors are accepting Medicare assignments. If you would like to find a doctor that does accept Medicare, please contact Elise Karras or Mary Jo Motyka,
The participants in Knitting for a Cause are busy working on their lap blankets to be distributed to residents of two nursing homes where two of our clients reside. These are the Pelham Parkway Nursing Home and the Sunharbor Manor Nursing Home on Long Island.
In the popular telephone exercise class, there are openings in the schedule of the class held on Fridays at 11am. Please contact Elise Karras if you are interested.
We offer a traditional Swiss recipe and some nostalgic commentary: A Zeughauskeller Potato Salad.
All good wishes to our SBS members! We hope you can manage to get out in the fresh air and enjoy the new season. Also, in no small measure, we sincerely hope to see you in the weeks and months ahead!
With warm wishes,
Mary Jo Motyka, LMSW and Elise Karras, LMSW
Social ServicesNewsletter, March 15, 2021
March 16 marks a whole year that we have been living with many restrictions due to the worldwide pandemic of COVID-19. Congratulations for weathering the storm during this unusual and tumultuous year. As Spring approaches, we can now think about nature’s rebirth as well as our own. Many of us have been fully vaccinated, some are waiting for their second dose, some are trying to schedule their first, while others are trying to figure out whether they will get vaccinated or not. All these actions are forward looking and provide some hope for the near future. What a difference a year makes! Just a year ago, we had no idea as to what was in front of us.
Please keep us in mind if you are facing obstacles in getting the vaccine. We can help navigate the system and provide additional information to make the process smoother. Did you know that in NYC, there is free transportation to and from vaccination sites? The City is finally organizing to bring the vaccine to homebound people. There is an application one must fill out and submit to be on the scheduling list. Please contact us if you need the application and if we can help you fill it out. For those members outside of NYC, the process is different. Again, please let us know how we can help.
We have been trying to keep our activities ongoing and relevant throughout the pandemic. We now have two exercise groups. One group has been meeting twice a week since May and has 6 members. The second group has been meeting since the Fall, once a week, and has room for a few more members. These exercise groups are telephonic, so there is no need for Zoom or Facetime. How is it possible to have an exercise group over the phone? Try it and see for yourself. Contact Elise for more information.
The Knitting for a Cause Group has been quite active lately. Not only did they make legwarmers and hats for the children of Hour Children (www.hourchildren.org) but have just finished gorgeous mittens for the same group of children. The next project will be knitting lap blankets for the residents of the two nursing homes where two of our members reside. We now have 7 members in this group and welcome others to join. Contact Elise for more information.
The Music Matinee on Zoom has been quite a success during this time. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the March 10 session had to be rescheduled. It will now take place on Wednesday, March 31 at 2 PM. The title will be “From the Youngest to the Oldest” and will feature performances from young prodigies and musicians in the older years (and some even over the age of 100!). If you would like to join us, please contact Mary Jo.
As we begin to re-enter the outside world, many might find that it is not easy. After being isolated and at home for a year, it is certainly understandable that people might feel a little hesitant to get out again. We would like to say it is certainly possible. Elise and Mary Jo can work with you to help you get to the point where you will feel comfortable and confident to re-emerge. Everyone’s comfort level in taking the first steps forward in social visiting will be different. Please contact us for this confidential assistance.
Everyone’s view on social visiting is different. If you are interested in having a meeting on a bench, or in or outside a café, or a walk in the park with one of us, please contact us and we will make sure it happens.
As Spring holiday season approaches, we would like to start with wishing all of our members a Sweet Passover. We look forward to a breath of fresh air and wonderful times together in the near future.
Please find included a popular Passover recipe, Matzo Ball Soup. An Easter recipe will be included in our next Newsletter.
With warm greetings,
Mary Jo Motyka, LMSW and Elise Karras, LMSW
Social ServicesNewsletter, March 1, 2021
At the SBS, we are reflecting on the fact that a year has passed since we first started to cope with the COVID pandemic. At the time, we could not even imagine what would transpire in the many months ahead. The shock and surprise of the news, the restrictions imposed, and the feelings engendered, all had a profound effect on all of us. There is a saying that “we are all in the same boat”, but we can also say although we have weathered the same storm, we are all in different boats. That is, although there are many universal aspects, everyone has their own response based on their situation and how they have gathered courage and perspective from past experiences. How do we deal with uncertainty? What are the stories we tell ourselves, or others, and how do they help to sustain us? What can we take from this experience to move forward?
There are small rays of light ahead, although there are still hurdles to be met. For many, there is a lightening of mood and outlook. With the coming of Spring, there is a feeling of renewal with the promise of better weather and longer days. Spring can feel different this year, perhaps more welcoming and with greater promise. Although we are not totally there yet, being almost on the other side can give us a sense of perspective and something to look forward to. As opposed to “cautious optimism”, we can start to feel new confidence that there are better days ahead.
In the tri-state area, the vaccine is becoming more available, but there are still some difficulties in finding a site close to home and in accessing the technology to make and find an appointment. We know that many have gotten their first dose of the vaccine, but many have not. For those who want to find out more about how to gain access, please call Mary Jo or Elise. Also, there are a number of programs to facilitate transportation to a vaccination site. Please let us know if we can help to find one.
If you are interested in seeing us, and as we are interested in seeing you, until we can meet in person, we now offer visits on the iPhone with Face Time and on Zoom. If you would like to set up a meeting via this technology, please contact either Elise or Mary Jo.
As further evidence of the coming of Spring, Lincoln Center is planning a new outdoor performing arts center, starting on April 7. From their press release this will be a “safe, welcoming, accessible and dynamic environment for arts and community organizations from across New York City.” For more information see: lincolncenter.org.
The telephone exercise class continues to offer stimulation and camaraderie. There are still a couple of openings for the 11am class on Fridays. Please contact Elise Karras for further information.
On Wednesday, March 10 at 2pm, our Music Matinee group will meet on Zoom. The title will be “From the Youngest to the Oldest” and will feature performances from young prodigies and musicians in their older years (and some even over the age of 100!). If you would like to join us, please contact Mary Jo Motyka.
Knitting for a Cause continues to produce beautiful and useful items to be donated to children in need at HourChildren, an organization based in Long Island City. Mittens are being made, and the next project will be lap blankets for seniors in `nursing homes. We are always looking for new participants. Please contact Elise Karras.
We offer a recipe: Croque-Monsieur. A popular Breakfast Sandwich in Switzerland. Click here
We send our best wishes for continuing good health, and we look forward with the promise of hope and renewed optimism!
With warm greetings,
Mary Jo Motyka, LMSW and Elise Karras, LMSW
Social ServicesNewsletter, February 12, 2021
As we prepare to enter our first year of coping with the COVID pandemic, we reflect on the multiple ways we have been able to call upon our internal and external resources. At the SBS, we have admired the fortitude of our members and the creative ways you have found to persist in the face of change and sometimes, adversity. Right now, we are in the middle of winter and dealing with reactions that are triggered by the changing of the season. The days are short and the nights are longer. This year, we encounter the “double whammy” of COVID and the usual seasonal challenges. We offer some possibilities for managing the weeks ahead.
The expression “cabin fever” can apply to many of us who experience a desire to “hibernate” and yet have a need for light and fresh air. There is a tendency to overeat and especially a craving for carbs, leading to weight gain. We have heard from many of you that it is difficult to find motivation, and there is a certain lack of energy. While these are certainly bothersome feelings, they are totally normal, especially in these times. Some antidotes are to get as much natural light as possible, go for a walk if the weather permits, consider light therapy with specialized boxes (but check with your doctor first), maintain a regular sleep schedule and keep routines, get regular exercise and eat a balanced diet.
One member recently said that this time in relative isolation has helped her to clarify her values, such as a firm belief that truth works and that humanity cannot exist without it, that goodness and peacefulness are such important virtues, and the ability to reach out is vital to establish mutuality. She has been spending time reading and reflecting. Although everyone reacts differently, it seems that everyone is going through something right now. Moods may vary, days of the week may blend together, and finding ways to use our time may be challenging. These responses are valid and to be expected in this ongoing and ever-changing situation.
One of our long-time members, Joan Dietrich, would like to share this light-hearted poem since there are so many cat lovers among us:
A Poem from the Cat:
I thank you for the food you bring, and for my little squeaky thing.
I thank you for your friendly talks, and when you change my litter box.
I thank you for the naps we share, and putting up with tufts of hair.
I thank you for these thing you do… enjoy this mouse I caught for you
As we get closer to access-for-all with the COVID vaccination, there are still challenges in finding an appointment. We know that Yankee Stadium is now a site for Bronx residents, Citi Field is a site for Queens residents, and the Javits Center is open for New York City residents. Appointments are required. Also, Walgreens has opened its website to schedule appointments around the boroughs. We again urge you to check also with your own doctor for any information or go to www.nyc.gov.
The group called Knitting for a Cause continues to meet on a regular basis on the phone and welcomes new members. Here is an example of the fine work being done by our members to help the children of Hour Children.
The telephone exercise class continues to meet and there are still openings in the 11am time slot on Fridays. This is a popular group and our members recognize the need for stimulation, enhanced circulation and strengthening, and community. Contact Elise Karras at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 917-756-4480.
The next Movie Afternoon will be held on Wednesday, February 24 at 2pm on Zoom. We will watch “The Dig” (2021), a movie about a groundbreaking discovery in an archeological expedition close to home, told with “simplicity, grace, and sensitivity.” Contact Mary Jo Motyka at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 917-756-4681.
Our recipe shared with you in this Newsletter is all about Carnival Season. Enjoy a Fasnachtschüechli!
We wish you good health, hope for the future, and a Happy Valentine’s Day!
With our warmest wishes,
Mary Jo Motyka, LMSW and Elise Karras, LMSW
Social ServicesNewsletter, Friday, January 29, 2021
It has almost been a year since our lives were quite suddenly turned upside down by the COVID pandemic. We have all navigated challenging feelings, changes, and decisions in our personal and social lives. Although it is easy to say that everything has changed, we have found such solace in the continuation of our Swiss community, that unit of “us” that keeps our members together. Our large group of compatriots continues to remain intact through creativity, compassion, and resilience. At the SBS, we continue to be here for you to lend support, information, and field any questions you may have.
Going forward, please expect the Newsletter to arrive near the first of every month and in the middle of the month. We will continue to announce events, disseminate any new information, and provide news of the progress of our groups.
We know that many of you have questions concerning the administering of the COVID vaccination. Some of you have already had it, but many are still trying to find a way to get it. News of the availability and possible venues to receive it is constantly changing and can be confusing. We encourage you to contact your primary doctor for any concerns or questions you may have and to find a place to receive it.
Our group Knitting for a Cause has had their beautiful work delivered to the program called Hour Children. Handmade items, including hats, legwarmers, and scarves were distributed to children whose mothers are incarcerated. This year, we also included some members of the staff of the program on our giving list. We thank our talented knitters for this project: Margaret Aliesch, Barbara Bosshard, Erna Daniel, Susanne Goldhagen, and Marianne Mazzonelli.
The Music Matinee entitled January Discoveries which was postponed will be offered instead on Wednesday, February 10 at 2pm. We will listen to and watch performances from the last several months. Most of these were held without a live audience, some with masks on, and all with the spirit of bringing music to all in a creative virtual setting. Please contact Mary Jo Motyka at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 917-756-4681.
The telephone exercise group at 11am on Fridays still has a couple of openings. Please contact Elise Karras at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 917-756-4480.
We offer you a recipe for these cold winter days, please click here for the "Soupe de Chalet".Enjoy!
We urge you to be aware that there has been an increase in scams that especially target seniors. These can be conducted by mail, email, or phone. We have attached a good article that provides helpful information to help you avoid becoming a victim of these scams, click here. If you cannot access this by email, please contact us and we will send you a paper copy.
In Memoriam: We remember our long-time members who died in December 2020 and send our deepest condolences to family and friends.
Hans Frei
Walter Lamont
Daisy Perret-Gentil
Olga Walde
We welcome any ideas or suggestions from you and wish you continued good health and sustained hope for better times to come.
With warm wishes,
Mary Jo Motyka, LMSW and Elise Karras, LMSW
Social ServicesBi-Weekly Newsletter, Thursday, January 7, 2021
Happy New Year to our entire SBS community. We miss you and hope that you are staying well! We look forward in the hope of seeing you in 2021 when it is safe to gather again.
As we look ahead at the start of a new year, we can appreciate the lessons we have learned from the experiences that we have shared. We have cared for one another and provided meaningful and deepening connections, even though physical presence was not always possible. While we are all ready for a new beginning, we hope to be able to hold on to some new ways of being, including being grateful for smaller things, coming back to the basics, and keeping life simple. As an antidote to boredom while we wait for better times, it is important to cultivate a sense of curiosity, revise our old mindsets, and look forward to each day as a new beginning. Eleanor Roosevelt famously said: “With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.” Also, Walt Disney noted: “Curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” This combination of hope and interest in new things can keep us going through these winter months and onward through the year. We continue to applaud the resilience and good will exhibited by our members since the beginning of the pandemic, as well as their ability to reach out when needed. As a gesture of outreach to the greater New York City community, on January 13 and 14, the knitting group is donating hand knitted hats and leg warmers to an organization called Hour Children (www.hourchildren.org) which supports children of incarcerated or formerly incarcerated mothers. In addition, we are donating 3 sets of hats and scarves to the director of the program and her associates. The knitting group is always looking for new members. Please contact Elise Karras at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 917-756-4480.
There is still room for new participants in the telephone exercise class on Friday mornings at 11am. Space is limited. Please contact Elise Karras at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 917-756-4480.
This month’s Music Matinee will be held on Zoom on Wednesday, January 20 at 2pm. The title will be “January Discoveries” and will feature live streams of recent performances when in-person live performances have not been possible. Concerts from Europe, Russia and the United States will be shown and discussed. Please RSVP to Mary Jo Motyka at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 917-756-4681.
Our Movie Afternoon will take place on Zoom on Tuesday, January 26 at 2pm. This month’s film will be “Enola Holmes” (2020), a mystery featuring the fictional sister of Sherlock Holmes. The movie is fast, charming, and clever. Please contact Mary Jo Motyka at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 917-756-4681.
We send you a favorite salad recipe to begin the new year with a healthy dose of vegetables: here.
As always, we welcome any questions or comments regarding our Newsletter or our services in general. We wish you all health, happiness, and hope in the New Year!
With warm regards,
Mary Jo Motyka, LMSW and Elise Karras, LMSW
Social ServicesBi-Weekly Newsletter, Thursday, December 17, 2020
It seems particularly fitting that certain carols of the season use the phrase “comfort and joy”, and this year, these words are even more relevant than usual. More than ever, we have an opportunity to take time to reflect on what our memories mean to us, how the present moment necessitates strength and courage, and how important is the need to look forward with hope.
Over the past several months, we have redefined what it means to be connected. At the SBS, we have sought new ways to reach out, just as many of our members have found different ways to connect with each other. During the holiday season, the loss of some structure of our traditions comes also with the replacement of old rituals. For most of us, although our holiday plans may have shifted, the spirit of the season remains intact, despite all. To seek comfort now means to manage expectations, to keep a close eye on our well-being and that of those we care about, and to allow a timeless sense of joy into our lives.
Lincoln Center is lighting its Plaza and surrounding areas for everyone to enjoy as a place for reflection and illumination. The Plaza will be lit in alternating warm and cool colors. There will be floating lanterns in the reflecting pool and the trees in Damrosch Park will be covered in lights. If the weather permits, this takes place from around dusk to 9pm and is worth the trip for a worthwhile and enjoyable experience.
The great cellist and humanitarian Yo-Yo Ma knows that music can close social distances and has instituted a series of online performances during the quarantine called “Songs of Comfort.” He believes that comfort is vital to the imagination and can foster a sense of building a better future. These short, moving performances are highly recommended and can be found on YouTube and in a new album called “Songs of Comfort and Hope.” Please click here.
In the upcoming days, at the SBS we are bringing music to you in a virtual setting. As previously mentioned in our last Newsletter, on Monday, December 21 at 2pm, we are hosting a Music Matinee on Zoom called “Approaching Joy.” Musical selections will include both the secular and the sacred, all of which are meant to be enlightening and uplifting.
Please contact Mary Jo Motyka at 917-756-4681 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to RSVP.
On Wednesday, December 23 at 1pm, we are introducing our first Holiday Sing Along via conference call. To join us, dial 212-246-0655, wait for the voice, then dial 777, then wait for the next prompt and dial 1291. Wait to hear the voice of Elise Karras to welcome you. The songs we have programmed include: Silent Night (and Stille Nacht), O Christmas Tree (Tannenbaum), Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, the Dreidel Song for Hanukkah, Winter Wonderland, Joy to the World, Jingle Bells, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. We hope you can join us!
CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN SWITZERLAND
In Switzerland, Advent calendars are a very popular way to count down the 24 days before Christmas. Often in villages you will find live Advent calendars, with homes or shops decorating their windows and revealing them one-by-one for 24 days. St. Nicholas, or Samichlaus, visits bringing chocolates, nuts, and oranges to the children on December 6th. He knocks on the door (rather than coming down the chimney) and often shows up with Schmutzli, Samichlaus's helper. On Christmas Eve, the Christmas tree is brought home and decorated, often with real candles, and the main Christmas meal is enjoyed, often including ham, scalloped potatoes, and cookies! Even though they received a visit from St. Nicholas earlier in the month, the children are not forgotten on Christmas Eve. It’s not a man in red, but rather Christkindli, a cherub angel representing the Christ child, who brings a present to the children after Christmas Eve dinner. (text by www.curiouscuisiniere.com)
We offer a recipe from Switzerland: Basler Brunsli
Please click here for the recipe. Enjoy!
Although we are not now physically near, certainly we are here for you in spirit and with all good will. We look forward to better times in the year ahead and especially being able to re-connect with you in person. From the staff at the SBS, we would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and health, hope, and happiness in the New Year!
With our warmest wishes,
Mary Jo Motyka, LMSW and Elise Karras, LMSW
Social ServicesBi-Weekly Newsletter, Thursday, December 3, 2020
This year, on the evening of December 10th, the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah will begin. A holiday of light, it is celebrated with menorahs, dreidels, and latkes in a festive mood.
As the days get shorter and the weather is colder, we tend to sit more. The longer we sit, the harder it is to get up. At the SBS, exercise is available to you without leaving your house. There is still room in the 11am Friday telephone exercise class. Please contact Elise Karras at 917-756-4480 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. This article from CNN is a useful reminder of the benefits of exercise: here
Our second Movie Afternoon shown on Zoom will be “Knives Out” on December 16 at 2pm. This is a charming mystery/comedy film from 2019.
The Music Matinee held on Zoom will be entitled “Approaching Joy” on December 21 at 2pm. Music, both sacred and secular, has been chosen for its transformational and inspirational qualities and the beauty and purity of sound.
Please RSVP for the Movie Afternoon and the Music Matinee to Mary Jo Motyka at 917-756-4681 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We hope you can join us!
We offer you recipes for two seasonal favorites: Spitzbuben cookies from Switzerland and Latkes to celebrate Hanukkah.
Finally, starting in 2021, we are eager to hear more from you and will be requesting any stories, memories, poems, etc. of no more than a paragraph. We would like to publish a few in our upcoming Newsletters to share with our readers and we welcome your submissions!
We wish you continued good health and good cheer. Our next Newsletter will be published on December 17 and then again in the New Year.
With all good wishes,
Elise Karras LMSW and Mary Jo Motyka LMSW
Social ServicesSBS Thanksgiving Greetings
Gratitude allows us to go on, to modulate our responses in facing day-to-day obstacles, and to reach out to connect. We gain a larger viewpoint by taking time to acknowledge goodness, shift our perspective, maintain calm and a positive outlook. Melody Beattie said: “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.” In a similar vein, the actor Michael J. Fox recently stated: “With gratitude, optimism becomes sustainable.”
At the SBS, we never underestimate the power of kindness and compassion. As we look forward to Thanksgiving Day, we are thinking of our members. We are grateful to have the opportunity to come together to know so many of our fellow Swiss. We appreciate your dedicated participation in our Society and in the lives of each other. This allows for a time to reflect, to awaken our empathy (toward ourselves and others) and an opportunity to rediscover our hope and verve for our lives. We send you our heartfelt wishes for a very Happy Thanksgiving!
With warm regards to all,
The SBS staffBi-Weekly Newsletter, Thursday, November 12, 2020
Thanks to all who attended our inaugural Music Matinee Zoom group last week. It is heartening to see how many Swiss members can come together to enjoy the transformational qualities of good music. There is room for one or two more participants in our next group. The title will be a slight variant of our last meeting: this time it will be “New Discoveries 2020” and will encompass instrumental and vocal music, with a few surprises, as well. The date will be Tuesday, November 24 at 3pm. Another new activity will be our first virtual Movie Afternoon. The short, inspiring documentary shown will be “Oliver Sacks: His Own Life” which explores the life of the legendary neurologist who redefined our understanding of the mind. The date is Tuesday, December 1, at 3pm. There will be ample time for discussion following the film. For both Zoom events, please contact Mary Jo Motyka at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 917-756-4681.
We include suggestions for further watching/listening from two of our members: the Kruger Brothers, who hail from Switzerland but are influenced by American bluegrass folk music. Click here. Another member has suggested the stream on YouTube entitled Cocktails with a Curator, which is broadcast from the Frick Museum in NYC every Friday at 5pm. Past lectures are also posted beginning from March 2020. More information here. Thanks to both of our members for their cultural viewing suggestions.
We remind you that Medicare Open Enrollment occurs from 10/15 to 12/7 and is a good time to evaluate or re-evaluate your current plan. If you have any further questions, please contact our social workers.
Many thanks are extended to those who have written to us in response to our groups. One member wrote: “Thanks for the nice outing today…it was so good meeting up with people again.” A participant in the exercise group commented: “The class helped me to get through the day.” A regular member of the Music Matinees said: “the resumption of this class provides some semblance of normalcy.”
So many of you have been delighted to receive a recipe and background information in each of our Newsletters. We offer a favorite: here
We are in the process of upgrading our Swiss cemetery plot in Mt. Kisco. We will keep you posted as to progress being made in our project to build a columbarium. Although the base is completed, work will begin on the structure on or near November 16.
We will be sending out a special greeting before the Thanksgiving holiday in lieu of our usual Newsletter. The next regular Newsletter will be published on Thursday, December 3, 2020.
Best wishes to all,
Elise Karras LMSW and Mary Jo Motyka LMSW
Social ServicesBi-Weekly Newsletter, Thursday, October 30, 2020
As we prepare to experience the winter months in this continuing time of COVID, we are reminded that patience is a virtue, resilience is worth cultivating, and keeping up our connections is paramount. At this time last year, none of us could have imagined that we would be living through these times. Unprecedented and certainly unforeseen, this crisis has prompted new ways of coping, the formation of new habits, and the necessity of flexibility in our thinking and the actions we are taking. Along with you, as the Fall slowly begins to turn into Winter, the SBS is contemplating possible strategies to deal with colder weather and spending more time inside. We all are looking to stem the tide of isolation, “cabin fever”, and changes in our mood and outlook for the future.
As the days get shorter and the nights become longer, please let us know if you would like a friendly call in the evening. Our volunteers are standing by and eager to help make a connection as needed. We realize that the sound of a friendly voice can go far to lighten your mood and cut through the aloneness of a long night.
Our group called Knitting for a Cause will be reconvening this Fall. We will again be knitting hats, scarves, booties and leg warmers for children whose mothers are incarcerated. This community service was very well received at the end of 2019 and our members were proud to contribute their handiwork. If you are interested in joining the group and want more details, please contact Elise Karras at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 917-756-4480.
Since the ongoing exercise class is at capacity for attendance, a new group is forming. This group will be held on Fridays from 11am to 12noon, is held on the telephone, and led by Elise Karras. If you are interested in joining this new group, please contact Elise at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 917-756-4480. We know that exercise is so important for your physical and mental health, especially in the coming winter months.
Because our last gathering was so successful, we are holding another outdoor dining experience on Monday, November 9th at 2pm. This will be like a smaller version of our Kaffeeklatsch and attendance is limited. We will meet at the Utopia Diner between West 72nd and 73rd Street on Amsterdam Avenue. We will dine under a covering with a barrier to separate from the street to assure safety. Please wear comfortable and warm clothing. RSVP: Elise Karras at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 917-756-4480.
To enjoy the brisk Fall weather, please note that the High Line, a public park on the West Side of Manhattan, is now open from noon to 8pm daily. Free timed-entry passes are now available for visits through November 8th. This is a wonderful place to experience nature, art, and design. Click here for more detailed information. Also, a new section of Riverside Park South has now opened from 65th to 68th Street. This includes new paths, stairs, and plazas. New trees have been planted, new tables and benches have been added, and there is new access to the waterfront. This is certainly well worth a visit as a place for a picnic, a walk, or just a way to enjoy the river views.
There is a fine new documentary from PBS in the series called Generation Nation. It depicts how different generations in the United States see themselves growing older. Click here to view this wonderful, inspirational film.
Looking forward, we are starting to plan activities using your telephone or computer. Several ideas we are considering include virtual information sessions, more Music Matinee classes on Zoom, and a possible virtual Sing Along with some songs suggested by you. Another possibility under consideration is a movie discussion group. With Zoom, or another platform, a small group of us could watch a movie together and talk about it later. If you are interested in this group, please contact Mary Jo Motyka at 917-756-4681 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please let us know if you have any interest in any of the other ideas for upcoming events.
A warm apple dessert is a good way to experience a measure of comfort for the chilly days ahead and the longer evenings: Here
As always, we continue to reach out to you with calls and emails, and we have also conducted small meetings in the outdoors. Please feel free to be in touch with us and let us know your ideas, feelings, and concerns. We are here for you.
With warm wishes,
Elise Karras and Mary Jo Motyka
Social ServicesBi-Weekly Update from the SBS, Thursday, October 15, 2020
Social ServicesBi-Weekly Update from the SBS, Thursday, October 1, 2020
As we move on through this uncharted territory, at the SBS we are thinking of our members. We have heard about your attempts to continue to cope with uncertainty and what lies ahead. We have listened to your experiences with attempts to venture out and we have understood both the adventures and struggles that this entails. This constitutes a kind of balancing act and there is the question of HOW to resume, WHEN to resume, and for many, even, IF to resume. As always, the SBS staff is here to support you in your endeavors and we are available to talk, answer questions, and provide any connections that may be of assistance.
We continue to be available for meetings outdoors on a bench near your neighborhood.
A Virtual Resource Fair will be held on October 13, 14, and 15. Register to hear presentations about resources, arts, culture, exercise, meditation, and job searches: Click here
A small gathering will be hosted by Madeleine Truninger at an outdoor space in her Senior Living Community in Cresskill, New Jersey. Due to COVID, only 4 members will be able to attend. This event will take place on Thursday, October 8, 2020 at 12 noon. If you are interested, please register by calling Elise (917) 756-4480 or at her email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. First to respond, first to serve. Since we are living in the time of COVID, participants must agree to wear a mask when not eating and sit at a distance. Lunch and coffee will be served. If there is a greater response, we will try to host another event in the near future, before it may get too cold.
As we get into colder weather, it may be difficult to get outside. If there is interest, Elise will add another weekly exercise class held on the phone. The current class has 5 to 7 members for the past 5 months and meets 2 times a week. Please indicate your interest by calling Elise at (917) 756-4480 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
We have had several requests to resume our Musical Matinees in an altered form. If you are interested in participating in a class via Zoom, please contact Mary Jo at (917) 756-4681 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Although the format will change, the content will be the same: musical excerpts, some live performances, interviews, and lively commentary. In all, this experience will offer some needed respite from our daily worries, and an opportunity for enrichment and the joys of listening together.
We offer some other suggestions for cultural stimulation. Although many of the museums are now opening on a limited basis, there are also several ways to enjoy outdoor art in the form of murals, sculptures and photography. For more information, click here.
For a delightful and inspiring listening experience from PBS, visit PBS. This is an exploration of the life and works of Schubert presented by young musicians of the highest caliber.
Finally, we offer greetings to our Jewish members for a good and sweet New Year!
Elise Karras and Mary Jo Motyka
Social ServicesBi-Weekly Update from the SBS, Thursday, September 17, 2020
Mary Jo Motyka, LMSW
Elise Karras, LMSW
In Memoriam: We mourn the loss of our longtime member, Fanny Turschwell, who died on September 7, 2020. Bi-Weekly Update from the SBS, Thursday, September 3, 2020
Bi-Weekly Update from the SBS, Thursday, July 23, 2020
Bi-Weekly Update from the SBS, Friday, July 10, 2020
As previously stated in our last Newsletter, the SBS office is now officially open. In following the protocol for safe re-opening, we have a sanitizing station set up at the entrance to our office. This includes hand sanitizer and extra masks for those who do not have them. The wearing of a mask in the office is mandatory and temperatures will be taken with a thermometer upon entering. You must call the office first to make an appointment and your name will be put on the reservation list downstairs in the lobby. You must also sign in downstairs at the desk. We can only accommodate a limited amount of people at one time to avoid overcrowding. In order to reduce physical contact, we will need to know how many people are in the office at one time. These precautions are set in place to protect our members who visit, and to also allow for the safety of our staff.
Our social workers are, as usual, available on the phone and by email. We have, however, begun to make limited visits with members who can meet outside and maintain a distance of six feet while wearing a mask. These visits have proven to be a good way to reconnect with some people who we have not seen for almost 3 months. When the weather allows, this can be a pleasant way to meet. As we are feeling our way through these experiences, we are aware of possible problems in communication. Talking with a mask on is difficult in any situation, but if there are any hearing problems, there can be a disconnect in the conversation. Also, seeing a person’s mouth and facial expressions are necessary to experience the nuances of connection. We are adjusting to these interferences in normal interaction, and realize that although the solutions are not perfect, our meetings with you are generally preferable to not being able to see you at all.
The Kaffeeklatsches have been helpful vehicles to introduce people to each other. Building on these new relationships, there is now an opportunity for you to meet with each other informally in the outdoors while maintaining a safe distance. Some of our members have been trying this out and have enjoyed re-connecting with friends and mutually reducing feelings of isolation.
As everyone starts to get out more, many of us are aware of stiffness, problems with mobility, and lack of general stamina. To address these issues, our telephone exercise class continues 2 times a week.
For more information please contact Elise Karras at 917-756-4480 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
We offer another delicious Swiss recipe to celebrate the season. Please click here for the Cherry Pie Recipe.
To sum up some of the feelings expressed during this phase of the “opening up” process, the lack of certainty in agreeing on the proper protocols can be like a balancing act. There is no real consensus in how to resume aspects of “normal life”: should we be “too careful”, or are we perhaps “not careful enough?” There is the element of risk vs. closeness and tradition. Finding our way forward will include a mixture of personal decisions and those dictated by the larger society. At the SBS we are here to offer help, support, and guidance in navigating the new landscape.
We will send our next Newsletter Update on July 23, 2020.
Until then, we extend our warmest wishes to you,
The SBS StaffWeekly Update from the SBS, Thursday, June 25, 2020
It has been two weeks since we last communicated with you via our Newsletter. We hope that this finds you healthy and safe. Over the past 3 months, our efforts have been focused on maintaining the important relationships we have had with all of you. As we emerge and implement Phase 1 and 2 of reopening, we have developed a professional protocol in opening our offices.
In addition, the telephone exercise class, which has been held for 2 months now, continues to be very successful. In a physical and social way, participating members have benefited two times a week for an hour. The class is still accepting new members. For more information please contact Elise Karras at 917-756-4480 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
For those who love music and find that it enhances their emotional and spiritual well-being, here is a wonderful collection of short performances, mostly by string players (although there is also a kazoo!) and in response to the pandemic, more here.
We send our warmest greetings and sincere wishes for continued good health and safety. Our next newsletter will be sent in 2 weeks on July 9, 2020.Weekly Update from the SBS, Thursday, June 11, 2020
It seems like there has been a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel and New York City and the Metropolitan area, along with the Swiss Benevolent Society, have weathered the storm as well as possible. For almost three months now, we have been providing connection and information for our members through Weekly Newsletter Updates and regular calls and emails. We are heartened by the response to our outreach and have been happy to be here for you during trying times.Weekly Update from the SBS, Friday, June 5, 2020
call 212/246-0655
wait for voice then punch in 777
wait for voice then punch in 1291
wait for me to say "hi".
A computer is not needed for the workshop.Weekly Update from the SBS, Thursday, May 28, 2020
After so many weeks of staying at home, we are starting to see some familiar activities in our neighborhoods. People are out more and walking in the parks and on the streets, wearing their masks, of course. More restaurants and diners are opening for take-out and delivery, and some small businesses, like dry cleaners and newsstands, are also beginning to open. Despite the small progress in easing restrictions, we encourage you to stay the course. In other words, continue to wear your face masks, practice social distancing and in general, try not to let down your guard. Two of our members recently were creative in their attempts to get together: they went to the park and sat on either end of the bench and talked, even with their masks on. As we enter a new phase in this crisis, we remember that these solutions are appropriate for now, and hopefully will change with the changing times.
As another way of staying the course, we encourage you to keep up hope and think of the possibilities inherent in looking toward the future. This has been a long time of isolation, fear, and uncertainty, and for many of us, it has been very challenging. We urge you to keep up the protocols when going outside. We have gotten this far and we don’t want to undo all of the progress that has been made. This crisis has highlighted that change is inevitable, and there will be a “new normal” for all of us. Although change is universal, how we respond to it will be personal. Optimism and the hope that things will get better is much needed at this time.
As we prepare to get outside more, a key issue for many is mobility. Like anything that hasn’t been used in a while, our body will take time to regain competency and strength. Ways to facilitate re-entry include walking around your home or apartment or in the lobby of your building. Above all, it is important to remember that we cannot rebound all at once, but rather should go forward in increments.
New York City has been opening certain streets to pedestrians for walking with more room for social distancing. These streets will be closed to traffic for the foreseeable future. For a list of these streets, please click here.
We encourage you to fill out your Census form. This is important because it will determine budget allocations for the next 10 years. Click here to ensure that your voice is heard.
Again, we remind you to make sure that you have your advance directives in place. Given the severity of the virus, it seems clear that it is essential to appoint someone you trust as your proxy to communicate your medical wishes if you lose the ability to do so yourself. The Healthcare Proxy Hotline offers a free service to support New Yorker's to help fill in their advance directives. Their number is 212-726-2034.
Elise Karras will conduct a telephone seminar on Wednesday, June 10 from 1 to 2 pm on the topic of advance directives. Among other important topics, the construct of the Five Wishes will be discussed. All that is needed is a telephone, a comfortable chair, and a pen and paper. A computer is not needed for this seminar. Please register by phone or email with Elise and she will follow up with the necessary details.
We wish to remind you about certain scams in this time of COVID19. Please remember that your bank will never call you; the IRS, Social Security, or Medicare will also never call you. If someone calls saying that they represent any of these agencies, HANG UP!
We end with a recipe to celebrate the Spring season. It’s asparagus season! This healthy dish is from Zürich and is quick and easy to prepare and tastes delicious. Find the recipe here.
The SBS staffWeekly Update from the SBS, Thursday, May 22, 2020
Weekly Update from the SBS, Thursday, May 14, 2020
Weekly Update from the SBS, Thursday, May 7, 2020
With the advent of Spring comes the task of spring cleaning, which can help to manage stress, give a purpose, and provide much needed distraction at this time. Perhaps this may seem intuitive, but we encourage you to open the windows and let the fresh air in! Other tips include cleaning out your medicine cabinet and throwing away old medications, using diluted lemon and vinegar to clean the microwave, and using an old T-shirt to clean a mirror with diluted vinegar and essential oils. Click here for many more tips, including using vodka for cleansing purposes!!
Considerations for keeping healthy in Springtime include taking care of your feet. After all, walking in the gardens or even around the block is very uncomfortable if your feet are hurting. Some recommendations include: wear cotton socks at night if your feet are cold, elevate feet when sitting to reduce swelling, wiggle your toes and rotate your ankles when sitting too long, and try not to wear anything tight on your feet, unless it is compression stockings prescribed by your doctor.
Although we know that Spring is different this year, there are still ways to embrace the season. We all have a new routine before we venture outside: remember your mask, bring your gloves, include a wide-brimmed hat to shield your face and wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the powerful rays of the sun.
This week we include another recipe to try while you are still “sheltering-in-place.” Good nutrition is essential for physical and emotional well-being, especially in these difficult times. Keep your Mother's Day sweet and light with an Aargauer Rüeblitorte/carrot cake.
Cultural nourishment is another way of “feeding” yourself. The Metropolitan Opera continues its nightly streams of past performances. The Viewer’s Choice of an historic performance of La Bohème with Luciano Pavarotti and Renata Scotto will be shown on Friday, May 8 at 7:30pm. Click here for this lovely treat.
For many years now, some of our members have attended the free concerts given by the very talented Juilliard School students. Since the school is now closed, students and alumni have been coming together via technology. Go to www.vogue.com Bolero Juilliard for an article and a video of an amazing interactive performance for dancers and musicians. Also, at www.juilliard.edu go to the Juilliard Media Gallery to see live performances. If you scroll down, there are several excellent performances including music by Brahms and Händel, as well as the Boléro by Ravel.
For a look at the way a Swiss citizen living in New York City views the current crisis here, click here.
We remind you that we continue to offer telephone exercise sessions. We have had a successful first week and invite anyone who would like to join to be in touch with Elise Karras. Mild exercise not only improves fitness through enhancing circulation, but also works to improve your mood!
Finally, for astonishing window views from all over the world (including Switzerland) during the lockdown, click here and enjoy!Weekly Update from the SBS, Thursday, April 30, 2020
“Are you kidding? I grew up during World War II and since then, I have always kept almost 3 months of food available!”
“Thanks for keeping an eye-rather an ear-on me.”
“You (SBS) are part of what makes life worthwhile.”
“I will take what I can get from the future…”
Because these are uncertain times, we urge you to take care of yourself by getting your affairs in order, in case of a medical emergency.
Advance directives describe how you want medical decisions to be made for you if you are unable to speak for yourself. These directives include: 1) a healthcare proxy or healthcare power of attorney, 2) living will and 3) durable power of attorney. Remember, these directives are ONLY if you cannot speak on your own behalf. For more information go to the National Institute on Aging Website.
Nurturing the mind and soul is a key component in taking care of yourself. These are three ways to experience the beauty in life, no matter what the current situation is.
The Metropolitan Opera continues its free nightly streams this week. Highly recommended is the iconic farewell performance of Leontyne Price in Aida in 1985. This “Viewer’s Choice” will be shown on Friday, May 1 at 7:30pm on www.metopera.org and can be accessed for the next 23 hours.
You do not have to leave your home to enjoy virtual train tours from America, Europe, and Asia. You will experience beautiful scenery and interesting commentary. Go to Insider.com and see “stunning-virtual-train-journeys.”
The Bronx Zoo is offering virtual visits to see the wildlife and many animals. The website is www.bronxzoo.com and look under Virtual Zoo.
Taking Care of Your Health Needs (Nutrition)
Eating well is crucial for taking care of yourself. During these uncertain times, we can all understand the desire to turn to “comfort food” to ease the uneasy feelings. However, too much is counterproductive and can prevent you from eating foods which nourish you. Go to the National Institute on Aging website to download or print “Healthy Eating After 50”. For more information click here.
We have also included a healthy Swiss recipe this week, the much-loved Swiss Muesli. It is easy to make as well as delicious and nutritious.
Click here.
We look forward to hearing from you. Let us know how you are, if you have any suggestions for the newsletter, or just to say “hi”. It is important for us to know you are out there and will be in touch. We continue to reach out to our members and are eagerly anticipating a time when we can come together again.
- Julie Andrews (2020)
Your SBS TeamWeekly Update from the SBS, Thursday, April 23, 2020
As we all “shelter in” for yet another week, the SBS is pleased that so many members have been able to receive and utilize our Weekly Update. We gain our motivation from you to continue to think about new and creative ideas to keep in touch with you. This week our theme is “Staying Connected.” In the following sections, we present some of our creative suggestions that can easily be carried out at home.
We know that everyone has a unique experience in sheltering at home. We also know that we learn new ways of coping by sharing our stories. We invite you to share your experiences during this time of isolation. Please send us a note describing your observations and experiences and let us know if it is alright to include in a future Newsletter, without using your name. You can send it to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.or to Elise Karras at PO Box 6390, Astoria, New York 11106.
Members are reporting that their mobility, balance, and general physical well-being have been impacted by staying at home. To address this, Elise Karras will be conducting telephone exercise classes. All you will need is a telephone, a sturdy chair, and a desire to move. If you are interested, please register at 917-756-4480, or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and she will provide the details.
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) has created a virtual link to an exhibit about the visionary art critic and collector Felix Feneon, who championed Matisse and Seurat, among others. Although this exhibit has been postponed, Mary Jo Motyka would like to plan a visit when the museum re-opens. You can use this link to provide a preview to the exhibition to prepare for our actual visit together: http://www.moma.org. Just go to “What’s On” and then click on “In the Galleries.” This will be an exciting event to look forward to in the (hopefully) near future!
Famous Online Musical Performances
A different Lloyd Webber musical streams each week on The Shows Must Go On at 2PM EST and remains viewable for 48 hours afterwards. Click here
Tulip Festival
There is no need to miss the spectacular tulip show in the Netherlands this year. Here is the link to view a virtual tour: www.tulipfestivalamsterdam.com. Enjoy!
Coloring
It has been suggested that coloring creates a calming presence in difficult times. Please click here for some free designs.
Food
There is nothing like a homemade traditional Swiss recipe to make you feel cozy and comfortable and remind you of your home country. In case you don’t have it on hand, here is an easy Rösti recipe. Read More
Please remember to take care of yourself and feel free, as always, to contact us.
“If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.”
Jack Kornfield
Kind regards,
Your SBS staff
If you need to reach Elise Karras or Mary Jo Motyka, please reach out to them directly (for Elise Karras: 917-756-4480 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / for Mary Jo Motyka: 917-756-4681 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). They will return your phone calls and emails as soon as possible.Weekly Update from the SBS, Thursday, April 16, 2020
A way that people have been spending time during the self-isolation is baking, especially bread. This seems to be a comfort and a connection to the past and easier times. Read More
For much needed cultural stimulation, we remind you that the Metropolitan Opera is continuing to offer free videos every night of past live operas. Highlights include Madama Butterfly and Der Rosenkavalier at the end of this week. These can be found Metropolitan Opera.
Looking ahead, the Met Opera has just announced an At-Home gala which will be streamed live on April 25 at 1pm EDT. Renee Fleming, Anna Netrebko and Jonas Kaufmann are some of the artists who will sing from their own homes. This should be a rare treat. For more information, there is an article on Opera Gala. In the Search section, type in Met Opera gala.
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center is also streaming a variety of exciting past live performances for free. Click here.
For a beautiful virtual view of the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens during the Japanese cherry blossom season, Botanical Garden for the tour.
For those of you eager to take a virtual trip, you can take a number of virtual train rides (two of them in Switzerland!) by logging onto Travel and Leisure website.
“The most important relationship you will have is the relationship with yourself.”
– Diane von Furstenberg
Please take care of yourself.Weekly Update from the SBS, Thursday, April 9, 2020
www.eldergymacademy.com
There are three ways to complete the 2020 Census
Wednesday, April 1st, 2020: Announcement from the Consulate General of Switzerland
Weekly Update from the SBS, Tuesday, March 31, 2020
From the Meistersaal in Berlin: A luminous recital by soprano Anna Prohaska. Well worth hearing, with commentary from the performers, speaking about the music and these difficult times. Click here
2,500 Museums You Can Now Visit Virtually. Click here
A fascinating geographical, temporal, cultural and artistic journey through the history of the Look of the Games. Click here
For a beautiful video of Switzerland with especially exciting views from above: Switzerland in 4K on YouTube. Over 4 million people have watched this! Click here
Pick your favorite artist and listen to a live concert. Click here
We encourage you to browse YouTube for Senior Exercise sessions, including those by Silversneakers.Weekly Update from the SBS, Monday, March 23, 2020
Free high definition opera every night beginning at 7:30 PM
www.metopera.org
Free online courses from Ivy League Universities
www.classcentral.com
Experience the best museums from London to Seoul in the comfort of your own home.
https://www.travelandleisure/com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours
SimplyE app will allow you to read books on your phone or device.
https://www.nypl.org/about/remote-resources
We encourage you to browse YouTube for Senior Exercise sessions, including those by Silversneakers.
15 plays and musicals you can watch on stage from home, including Sweeney Todd, Newsies and others.
https://playbill.com/article/15-broadway-plays-and-musicals-you-can-watch-on-stage-from-home
If you need to reach Elise Karras or Mary Jo Motyka, please reach out to them directly (for Elise Karras: 917-756-4480 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / for Mary Jo Motyka: 917-756-4681 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). They will return your phone calls and emails as soon as possible.Update from the SBS, Monday, March 16, 2020
We hope that you and your families remain safe during these trying times.
Warm regards,
Christine Hubacher
Executive Director